Author: hopeforheather

In the past 10 days, I have lost 2 friends suddenly to heart attacks. One passed away this past Sunday, and the other one died the Sunday before that.

I am always honest on my blog. This is the only safe place for me where I can be fully open and vulnerable, no judgement from anyone or anywhere because this small blog space is mine and mine only.

I am not doing well with these 2 losses.

Maybe I will write more about these painful and sudden losses of life. These were 2 pretty important people in my life and I cannot see forward.

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EDIT: So, I cannot do simple math. Last Thursday I found out a very good friend passed away suddenly. And a few hours ago I found out a former colleague died. That is a major blow to anyone, let alone 2 deaths in 6 days.

Like this:

Isn’t it amazing how things can change so much in 48 hours? Even 24 hours?

So a few days ago I was panicking that I might have cancer in one of my lymph nodes and that this new 5 cm. mass in my right thyroid bed was b a d n e w s.

I had the CT scan Friday morning and my Endocrinologist called me late morning. He said, per the Radiologist, that he DOES NOT need to biopsy the mass. I’m guessing fatty tissue? Is that part of Cowden Syndrome? I actually think it is, at least to a point. But, as that fatty tissue grows, then what?

Anyway, and evidently there is NOT any metastasis in my lymph node. The ultrasound technician thought it was, or theorized there was. Regardless, I have that on the top of my list of things to ask my Endo. next week. WHAT the freak is/was in that lymph node then?

So, taking small victories as they come I am breathing a sigh of relief.

PS In the midst of all this whirlwind I had decided to put my Twitter and Instagram accounts on a hiatus of sorts. But I had forgotten I had a previous commitment on IG so I have brought that one back.

Like this:

Day 4 of Brain Tumor Awareness month and today I decided to share a little bit of data (that I could find) about the type of brain tumor I have: Gangliocytoma. My understanding is that this is a very rare, but benign, brain tumor that makes up about 1% of all brain tumors.

Sadly, a few of the “main” brain tumor org’s I have found do not carry much, if any, data about Gangliocytoma. Yes, they are rare. Yes, they are benign. But, it is still a type of brain tumor and the data that *is there should be included. I think that is one of my biggest frustrations since diagnosis: inclusion of *all types of brain tumors.

Anyway. Below is one of the (few) links I have found in my research. I pray that more data will be collected!

Like this:

I was thinking earlier about what I wanted to share today. I decided I would share a bit about where this blog began.

I began this blog the day after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. I knew nothing; nothing about what was ahead for me. Oh, man. I was so naive! I miss that Heather, to be honest. That Heather knew pain, sure. But she was so little then! ❤ I wish I could go back and tell that Heather I will never forget her. I wish I would have hugged her a bit longer. 😦

If you click here you can read my very first post. I am very thankful that I have those early days that I can look back on.